Aspirating nozzle with quick change liner

ABSTRACT

An aspirating nozzle assembly for use in the manufacture of solid ceramic spheres from a fused oxide material such as alumina, including a hollow annular outer housing means and a hollow annular inner liner means together forming an annular chamber therebetween with an annular outlet therefrom at the downstream end of the nozzle assembly, said liner means being supported and constrained within said housing means so as to be quickly and easily removed and replaced.

Ilnite Sttes Scott tent 1 1 1 Aug. 27, 1974 ASPITING NOZZLE WITH QUICK CHANGE LINER [75] Inventor: John ,1. Scott, Niagara Falls,

Ontario, Canada [731 Assignee: Norton Company, Worcester, Mass.

[22] Filed: June 8, 11973 [21] Appl. No.: 368,296

[52] US. Cl 239/424, 222/567, 239/591,

239/600, 285/16, 425/190, 425/192 [51] Int. Cl B051) 7/06, B22d 37/00 [58] Field of Search 239/423, 424, 591, 592,

239/600, 266/38; 425/190-192; 222/DIG. l, DIG. 7, 567; 285/9 R, 16

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,848,122 3/1932 Forster 239/591 X 2,192,661 3/1940 Jones 3,073,534 1/1963 Hampshire 239/422 3,436,253 4/1969 Kelsey et a1, 239/591 X 3,735,906 5/1973 Zettlemoyer ct a1. 222/D1G. 1

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 22,746 8/1915 Great Britain 222/D1G. 1

Primary Examiner Lloyd L. King Assistant Examiner-Andres Kashnikow Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lewis M. Smith, Jr.

[ 5 7 ABSCT An aspirating nozzle assembly for use in the manufacture of solid ceramic spheres from a fused oxide material such as alumina, including a hollow annular outer housing means and a hollow annular inner liner means together forming an annular chamber therebetween with an annular outlet therefrom at the downstream end of the nozzle assembly, said liner means being supported and constrained within said housing means so as to be quickly and easily removed and replaced.

5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure ASPIRATIING NOZZLE WITH QUICK CHANGE LINER CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention relates to an aspirating nozzle assembly and especially to an air aspirating nozzle assembly particularly useful for making spherical ceramic pellets from a fused oxide material, characterized by an outer annular housing and a cooperating inner annular liner fixedly supported by the housing and quickly and easily removed from and replaced in the housing.

2. Description of the Prior Art US. Pat. No. 3,073,534 issued Jan. 15, 1963 to W. J. Hampshire discloses and claims an aspirating nozzle assembly for spraying a mixture of fibers and resin, comprising several concentrically disposed and interconnected hollow annular nozzle elements, typically threadedly interconnected in the manner well known in the art.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,719,733 issued Mar. 6, 1973 to L. F. Rakestraw et al. describes and claims a method for forming spherical particles from a melted normally solid material by means of apparatus including an air aspirating nozzle assembly, and noting in column 6 at line 42 that it is cumbersome and expensive to continually change the orifice plate when different size spherical particles are needed SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates an aspirating nozzle assembly for attachment to the tap or pouring outlet of an arc furnace, and operative to produce spherical pellets from an oxide material fused in the furnace. Since this operation deposits a coating of the' oxide material on the interior surface of the nozzle assembly, this interior surface must be cleaned after each pour from the furnace. Therefore, the aspirating nozzle assembly of this invention features a liner supported by a cooperating outer housing during each ouring operation and thereafter quickly and easily removed and replaced with a clean liner for the next pouring operation.

An object of this invention is the provision of an aspirating nozzle assembly for making spherical pellets including an annular outer housing means and a cooperating annular inner liner means readily removed and replaced after each pellet making operation.

Another object is the provision in an aspirating nozzle assembly of a heat and corrosion resistant inner liner means slideably interfitted with an outer housing means so that the liner means may be quickly removed from the housing means and replaced with a cleaned liner means.

Still another object is the provision in an aspirating nozzle assembly of a liner means therefor comprising an outer annular supporting means of metal and an inner temperature and corrosion resistant liner of graphite pressed into and fixedly secured in the cooperating supporting means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE of the drawing is a side elevation, partially broken away, of the aspirating nozzle assembly of the instant invention shown in operative relation to the tap or pouring outlet of an arc furnace.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drawing shows an aspirating nozzle assembly generally designated by the reference numeral 10 including an annular outside casing or housing means 14 and an inner conduit element or liner means l6 coact ing to form an annular air chamber 17 therebetween with a radially reduced annular orifice 18 at the downstream end of the aspirating nozzle assembly 10 and at least one air inlet such as air conduit 20 extending through housing means 14.

With an aspirating nozzle assembly so arranged, air discharged from the annular orifice 18 is intermixed with the fiJsed ceramic material 4 discharged from the nozzle assembly to break it up into droplets l2 thereafter cooled to form spherical particles, all as described in greater detail in the Trischuk patent referred to above.

The housing means 14 and the replaceable liner means 16 associated therewith must necessarily have corresponding cross sections for satisfactory cooperation. For example, both the housing means 14 and the liner means 16 may be right circular cylindrical members each with a longitudinal section as shown in the drawing.

As indicated in the drawing, the smooth outer surfaces of liner means 16 cooperate with the complementary smooth inner surfaces of the housing means 14 to allow the liner means 16 to slide freely into and out of the position relative to the housing means shown in the drawing, in which the liner means 16 is constrained against axial movement downstream relative to the housing means 14 by the interaction of opposing surfaces 3ll and 32 on the adjoining side faces of the shoulder or flange I3 projecting radially inwardly from the housing means 14 and the shoulder or flange 15 projecting radially outwardly from the liner means 16, whenever the nozzle assembly is located in its operative position, as shown in the drawing.

Since the liner means 16 is subjected to the high temperature and the corrosive effect of the fused oxide material discharged therethrough, it desireably includes an outer annular supporting means of metal or other relatively strong and rigid material and an inner liner 21 of graphite or other temperature and corrosion resistant material pressed into and fixedly supported by the outer annular supporting means.

As shown in the drawing, the outer annular supporting means may have substantially parallel inner and outer surfaces while the inner liner 21 of temperature and corrosion resistant material is tapered from a relatively small central inlet opening at the upstream end thereof to a relatively large central outlet opening at the downstream end thereof.

During each pouring operation, the inner surface of the liner means 16 is covered with a coating of the fused oxide material deposited and ultimately hardened thereon. Accordingly, the liner means 16 should be capable of removal and replacement with a clean liner means with a minimum of difficulty and delay. Since the shoulder 13 projecting radially inwardly from the housing means 14 fits relatively loosely over the outer surface of the liner means 16, and since the shoulder 15 projecting radially outwardly from the liner means l6 fits relatively lossely within the cooperating inner surface of the housing means 14-, as indicated in the drawing, it is a very quick and easy operation to slide the liner means 16 upstream relative to and out of engagement with the housing means 14 and to slide a clean liner means 116 downstream relative to and into engagement with the housing means 114.

The aspirating nozzle assembly 10 may conveniently be mounted in operative relation to the tap or pouring outlet 23 of an electric arc furnace 2 as shown in the drawing by means of an annular collar 2ll secured to the outer surface of the housing means 14 by any suitable attachment means such as a weld 24. The collar 21 may be pivotally connected to the furnace 2 by a suit able hinge 22 and be maintained in contact with the end face of the tap or pouring outlet 23 by any suitable latch mechanism, for example, with a latch 27 pivotally connected tothe tap 23 and biased to maintain the aspirating nozzle assembly 10 in operative engagement with the tap 23 by a suitable biasing spring 29.

After each pouring operation, the latch 27 is pivoted clockwise as seen in the drawing to release the collar 21 for counterclockwise rotation of the nozzle assembly 10 about the hinge 22 into an inoperative liner means replacement position, not shown in the drawing, in which the liner means 16 is slideably removable from the housing means 14. After a clean liner means 16 is slideably inserted into the housing means 14, the nozzle assembly 10 is rotated clockwise as seen in the drawing into engagement with the end face of the tap 23 and secured in this position by the latch 27.

The aspirating nozzle assembly 10 of the present invention can also be manufactured more quickly and much more cheaply than the corresponding nozzle illustrated in greatest detail in FIG. 2 of US. Pat. No. 3,763,603 of Trischuk.

It should be understood that the description of the present invention herein and the corresponding showing in the accompanying drawing is illustrative only, rather than limiting, and that the scope of the present invention is determined entirely by the several claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

i. In an aspirating nozzle assembly including a hollow cylindrical outer housing means and a coacting replaceable hollow cylindrical liner means contained therein and supported thereby, said housing means and said liner means together forming an annular air chamber with an air inlet and a relatively reduced annular air outlet at the downstream end of the nozzle assembly, and said housing means beiing mounted for movement between an operative first position and an inoperative second liner means replacement position, the improvement comprising smooth outer surfaces on said liner means and complementary smooth inner surfaces on said housing means freely slideable into and out of mutual engagement as said liner means is inserted into and removed from said housing means,

constraining means projecting radially inwardly from said housing means, and

constrained means projecting radially outwardly from said liner means,

said constraining means and said constrained means coacting to preclude further movement of said liner means downstream of the nozzle assembly relative to said housing means when the housing means is in its operative first position without interfering with rapid removal and replacement of said liner means when the housing means is in its inoperative second position.

2. An aspirating nozzle assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said constraining means comprises a first flange spaced from the upstream end of said housing means, and

said constrained means comprises a second flange at the upstream end of said liner means,

said first flange and said second flange respectively including mutually opposed and coating faces extending radially of the nozzle assembly.

3. An aspirating nozzle assembly as described in claim ll, wherein said housing means comprises a right circular cylindrical member, and

said liner means comprises a right circular cylindrical member.

4. An aspirating nozzle assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said liner means consists of an outer supporting means of metal, and

a heat and corrosion resistant liner of graphite tapered from a relatively small central inlet opening at the upstream end thereof to a relatively large central outlet opening at the downstream end thereof,

said liner being pressed into and fixedly supported by said supporting means.

5. in an aspirating nozzle assembly including a hollow cylindrical outer housing means and a coacting replaceable hollow cylindrical liner means contained therein and supported thereby, said housing means and said liner means together forming an annular air chamber with an air inlet and a relatively reduced annular air outlet at the downstream end of the nozzle assembly, and said housing means being mounted for movement between an operative first position and an inoperative second liner means replacement position, the improvement comprising smooth outer surfaces on said liner means and complementary smooth inner surfaces on said housing means freely slideable into and out of mutual engagement as said liner means is inserted into and removed from said housing means when the housing means is in its inoperative second position,

a first flange projecting radially inwardly from the smooth inner surface of said housing means and spaced from the upstream end of said housing means, and

a second flange projecting radially outwardly from the smooth outer surface of said liner means at the upstream end of said liner means,

said first flange and said second flange coacting to limit downstream displacement of said liner means relative to said housing means when the housing means is in its operative first position without interfering with rapid removal and replacement of said liner means when the housing means is in its inoperative second position, and

said liner means consisting of an outer annular supporting means of metal and a heat and corrosion resistant inner annular liner of graphite pressed into and fixedly supported by said supporting means. 

1. In an aspirating nozzle assembly including a hollow cylindrical outer housing means and a coacting replaceable hollow cylindrical liner means contained therein and supported thereby, said housing means and said liner means together forming an annular air chamber with an air inlet and a relatively reduced annular air outlet at the downstream end of the nozzle assembly, and said housing means beiing mounted for movement between an operative first position and an inoperative second liner means replacement position, the improvement comprising smooth outer surfaces on said liner means and complementary smooth inner surfaces on said housing means freely slideable into and out of mutual engagement as said liner means is inserted into and removed from said housing means, constraining means projecting radially inwardly from said housing means, and constrained means projecting radially outwardly from said liner means, said constraining means and said constrained means coacting to preclude further movement of said liner means downstream of the nozzle assembly relative to said housing means when the housing means is in its operative first position without interfering with rapid removal and replacement of said liner means when the housing means is in its inoperative second position.
 2. An aspirating nozzle assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said constraining means comprises a first flange spaced from the upstream end of said housing means, and said constrained means comprises a second flange at the upstream end of said liner means, said first flange and said second flange respectively including mutually opposed and coating faces extending radially of the nozzle assembly.
 3. An aspirating nozzle assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said housing means comprises a right circular cylindrical member, and said liner means comprises a right circular cylindrical member.
 4. An aspirating nozzle assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said liner means consistS of an outer supporting means of metal, and a heat and corrosion resistant liner of graphite tapered from a relatively small central inlet opening at the upstream end thereof to a relatively large central outlet opening at the downstream end thereof, said liner being pressed into and fixedly supported by said supporting means.
 5. In an aspirating nozzle assembly including a hollow cylindrical outer housing means and a coacting replaceable hollow cylindrical liner means contained therein and supported thereby, said housing means and said liner means together forming an annular air chamber with an air inlet and a relatively reduced annular air outlet at the downstream end of the nozzle assembly, and said housing means being mounted for movement between an operative first position and an inoperative second liner means replacement position, the improvement comprising smooth outer surfaces on said liner means and complementary smooth inner surfaces on said housing means freely slideable into and out of mutual engagement as said liner means is inserted into and removed from said housing means when the housing means is in its inoperative second position, a first flange projecting radially inwardly from the smooth inner surface of said housing means and spaced from the upstream end of said housing means, and a second flange projecting radially outwardly from the smooth outer surface of said liner means at the upstream end of said liner means, said first flange and said second flange coacting to limit downstream displacement of said liner means relative to said housing means when the housing means is in its operative first position without interfering with rapid removal and replacement of said liner means when the housing means is in its inoperative second position, and said liner means consisting of an outer annular supporting means of metal and a heat and corrosion resistant inner annular liner of graphite pressed into and fixedly supported by said supporting means. 